The Rivierenbuurt was built in the years twenty and thirty as a component of the Plan Zuid (Plan South) designed by H.P. Berlage and named after Dutch rivers.

Most of the buildings are constructed in the style of the Amsterdam School. Famous architects such as Michel the Klerk and Piet Kramer helped constructing the Rivierenbuurt.

The most important building of the quarter is the ‘Skyscraper’ of J.F. Staal. It is just a 12 story building and therefore no real skyscraper.

This first high construction of Amsterdam stands at the Victory Square, which at that time still had the name Daniël Willinkplein. Here the Amstellaan, Noorder Amstellaan and Zuider Amstellaan met, forming a Y-shape. In 1946, these three alleys were named after the leaders: Stalin, Churchill and Roosevelt.

On November 14th, 1956, after the irruption of the Russians in Hungary, the Stalinlaan was renamed into Vrijheidslaan (Freedom Street).

At the East side of the Rivierenbuurt is the Berlagebrug (Berlage Bridge) located, which since 1934 formed the connection to the Eastern part of Amsterdam and the Amstel station bypassing the Amstel river. The Canadians liberators passed this bridge on May 7th 1945.

At the South side of the Rivierenbuurt lies the Utrechtsebrug, bypassing the Amstel river and since 1954 forming the beginning of the motorway to Utrecht (A2).

On July 16th, 1958 the name of the Westerscheldeplein was modified into Europe Square.Since 1961 the RAI building and the RAI – Congress Centre are situated over here.

In the South of the Rivierenbuurt is the Rivierenlaan situated. After the assassination of John F. Kennedy in 1963, the street was renamed into President Kennedylaan on January 9th, 1964. Here you can also find the Martin Luther King Park, named after the Afro-American citizen right activist, assassinated in 1968.

With the construction of the town parts in 1987 became the Rivierenbuurt an independent district. In 1998 it merged with the district Buitenveldert and the new quarter was called ZuiderAmstel (South Amstel).

Since 1916 the following tram lines have passed the Rivierenbuurt: 4, 5, 5A, 7,8,12, 20, 25 and S. Tram lines 4, 12 and 25 still reach the Rivierenbuurt.